Path to CRNA

I was about to ask the same question. I look forward to new comments as the information posted thus far seems inconsistent.
Good luck!

You could apply for 2011, but you will most likely not be competitive and most managers are not going to write you a solid LOR at that point. If you start in the ICU in September of 2010, you would have to be applying for programs right away. You will still be on orientation and not really know anything yet (no offense) I graduated in May 2008, started in the ICU in July 2008 and was just accepted to CRNA school last month to begin in 2010.

I'm sure there have been a few that had the minimum of 1 year experience by the time the program starts, but most people have 1 year at least by the time of interviewing. It only makes sense to get some good ICU experience outside of orientation before you are asking coworkers, manager, and docs for LOR.

If you even got an interview, they would recognize right away that you really didn't have enough experience when you haven't even cared for the sickest patients on your unit. You will not be able to take your CCRN either with absolutely zero hours in the ICU. I hope this helps.

A few recommendations:

1.) CCRN is vital, if its not required, it will help you stand out. You need 1750 hours at bedside to apply to sit for the exam. Get the Laura gasparis vonfrolio videos now. They will help you on the job, good for any nurse.

2.)Take this sickest patients (thats you feel comfortable with). You must become proficient on Vents, Swans, and Drugs. Dont be afraid to ask questions, and look up everything you don't know or understand. Best place to take care of the most critical patients is in a level 1 trauma center teaching hospital. If you can put level 1 trauma center on your application, they're going to know you've managed sick patients.

3.) Take all the educational classes your hospital offers: TNCC, PALS, CATN-II, ATLS, ENPC. Super-user when possible...I'm a super user for CVVH, Clinical Documentation, and Wound Vacs (Im the person to come to with questions regarding issues with these pieces of equipment. Put it all on your resume, show them how interested you are in your education. Maybe you can have your nurse educator write you a LOF (send atleast 4 LOR).

I would recommend getting atlest a couple yours experience, when your in anesthesia school your going to want to have some experience to fall back on. Go to as many Codes as possible. I take the Code beeper as often as I can. I feel like roughly 90 percent of codes are preventable. Working in a high acuity ICU's I've only had my patients code 2 times in 4 years (not counting the ones that were coding on their way to me).

I hope this helps.

I think that is great information, thank you for sharing.

when did u apply for crna scool?

I started applying to schools in June 2009

reading through the "standard" replies to this thread that fly all over this forum all the time....let me give you a more "real world" reply....
people on here freak out way to much about requirements, classes, certifications, experience etc...
I see you are in an accelerated program so i assume you are smart, there you go requirement #1...you better be pulling A's b/c yes your grades are gonna stand out, what will not stand out so much is CCRN, TNCC, abcdefg..blah blah blah...whats CCRN prove? everyone has it now who applies, it doesn't make you look superior or stand out, and its certainly not vital...its a run of the mill credential now that does not garner much attention (in crna schoolapplicatoin process) ....if you have made it to the interview people already think you are smart, you don't need a bunch of fluff to back it up.
Experience....here is the big one, "sickest patient" "trauma" "open hearts" again blah blah blah...it makes zero difference! when you get into your class there will be people with 1 year, 20 years, multiple degrees (from previous careers) perhaps a nurse practioner or two...lots of things... guess what? None of you will know anything and the people who excel are those who can ADAPT and learn new things quickly...brains and a good attitude there are your requirements...and amazingly enough in your interview this will show and be the #1 criteria by which you are judged...people who present themselves as teachable, easy going personality, not going to be a "problem" thats what CRNA programs are looking for...thats what will get you in the door.

So my advice apply as soon as you can, (that is if you are the ideal canidate I just described) you will be amazed how possible it is, if you want to spend extra time in ICU that is fine as well, but don't linger there b/c someone on here has scared you into...people on here seem to be in constant panic mode about this type of stuff giving the most high strung advice possible....just giving an alternative, more realistic point of view...and how do i know? been there, 6 months to go, sat in on interviews for classes... just regurgitated the critera by which they were judged...

Worked with a guy who applied with only 6 mths experience, got an interview with only 7 mths, accepted with only 8 mths and started school at exactly 1 yr experience (total, not just ICU) and is now in his 3rd semester. If you want it bad enough, anything is possible....

Wow, where did he apply?